BJP, RSS welcome top court decision, Congress cautious

NEWDELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the Supreme Court’s judgment on Thursday, with two senior party leaders saying the verdict will clear the way for a speedy resolution of the Ayodhya dispute and early construction of a temple at the disputed site.

“I welcome the judgment. The hearing will start from October 29 and I am sure construction of ram temple can be started soon,” Union minister Uma Bharti said. “I have said it at the outset that it is not a matter of dispute between two faiths. For Hindus, it is birthplace of Lord Rama. It is not an important historical or religious place for Muslims.”

The Congress was guarded in its response, insisting that it will abide by the Supreme Court judgment and also urge the government to implement the verdict.

“We have always said that whatever the decision of the Supreme Court in the matter of Ram Temple-Babri Masjid, all sides should abide by it and the government should implement it,” Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi told reporters.

She attacked the BJP, accusing it of conspiring to mislead and befool the people of the country on the Ram temple issue. “BJP is a party which is doublefaced on Ram and has ‘Nathuram’ in their hearts,” she said, in reference to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin.

A BJP leader who asked not to be named said the party maintained “restraint” after the judgment because there was a “certain kind of euphoria” among its supporters who would want construction of the temple immediately. “An expeditious hearing resulted in the Aadhaar judgment. Who knows if an expeditious hearing can deliver a verdict in Ayodhya case before Diwali,” the leader said.

A senior Cabinet minister, too, said the Thursday judgment underscores the need for a quick hearing in the Ayodhya matter. “The delaying tactics of Muslims have been defeated,” the minister said, asking not to be named.

Another BJP leader said a daily hearing in the case could bring Ram temple into the centre of the discourse during the campaign for the Lok Sabha election and there could be a strong surge in Hindutva sentiment, which will definitely impact the outcome of the election. “This matter has been pending for the last 70 years. Everyone wants a solution to this,” the leader said.

In a statement, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) welcomed the verdict. “We are confident that a just verdict will be reached over the case at the earliest,” RSS spokesperson Arun Kumar said.

The Congress said while the BJP garnered votes in the name of Ram Temple, it sent Ram “to exile” the moment it comes to power. Chaturvedi also charged the BJP with trying to mislead the people on Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s “spiritual quest” while undertaking the Mansarovar yatra earlier this year and Thursday’s visit to Chitrakoot temple in Madhya Pradesh.

“The BJP is questioning the devotion that one has for Lord Shiva. It raised objections on Rahul Gandhi’s Kedarnath yatra. They have also raised a hue and cry on Gandhi’s Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.”

“BJP people are worried and tense. They should understand that if they create hurdles in the devotion of God, they will be committing a sin as per ancient saying. I can only pray that may the Lord grant you good sense,” Chaturvedi said.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) state spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said this was not a matter to react on politically. “Under all circumstances, the spirit of agreement and social harmony should prevail,” he said.